The government has “failed to complete a single recommendation” from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, London mayor Sadiq Khan has said.

Mr Khan questioned whether the government and housing sector are taking steps to move forward with the recommendations made in the first phase of the inquiry into the 2017 fire, which claimed 72 lives.

Its first phase looked at how the fire spread through the 24-storey west London tower block.

Mayor ‘extremely concerned’ by lack of progress

Mr Khan said he was “extremely concerned” by the lack of progress made by the government since the report’s recommendations were published in October 2019.

The Inquiry’s Phase 1 report included 12 recommendations aimed primarily at the government. None have been completed so far and the government had not provided a date for when they will be, according to Mr Khan’s office.

It said the recommendations include vital changes to legislation and national guidelines on building regulations, including those that relate to fire safety.

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Fire brigade takes action

Mr Khan announced that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has completed 26 of the 29 recommendations directed at them and other fire rescue services

The LFB has introduced smoke hoods to aid in the rescue of people in smoke-filled environments and 32m and 64m ladders to help tackle fires in high-rise buildings, as well as an extensive training programme to put in place changes in how the brigade responds to high-rise fires.

Mr Khan said the LFB has made “significant changes” and appears to be committed to putting the recommendations in place “as swiftly as possible”.

He added: “However, I am extremely concerned the government has failed to complete a single recommendation from the first phase of the inquiry.

“It is vital that the government and the housing and building industries act now and do not wait for the inquiry’s next report to take action on such an important issue.

“Without faster action, the government is failing the Grenfell community, putting lives at risk and leaving residents feeling unsafe in their homes. The government, housing and building industries must not wait to implement the wholesale reforms that are needed to fix a broken system.”

Mayor’s claim is ‘unfounded’

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said that Mr Khan’s claim was “unfounded”.

A spokesman said: “The government is making progress towards implementing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 recommendations.

“We’re introducing the biggest improvements in building safety for a generation – with tougher regulations that will give more rights and protections for residents and make homes safer.

“Our new building safety regulator will enforce a more stringent regulatory regime for high-rise residential buildings, and oversee the safety and performance of all buildings.”

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